After a period of declining health, Ruth Hudson Sinclair, 87, of Hendersonville passed away Wednesday, June 9, 2010, at Life Care Center of Hendersonville.

The daughter of Earl Grady Hudson and Mamie McClure Hudson, Ruth was born September 30, 1922, in Tryon. She was also preceded in death by a son, Mark Stanley Sinclair, who died in 1969, by her husband, William Edgar Sinclair Sr., who died in 1980, and her sister, Helen Drummond of California. She graduated&bsp; in 1939 from Flat Rock High School, and married her beloved husband, William Edgar Sinclair, July 11, 1942.

Ruth was a devoted wife and mother of six children. Always a nurturer, she loved to prepare delicious meals for her large family and was well known for her cooking skills. She retired from General Electric of Hendersonville and volunteered as a pink lady in the chaplains office at Pardee Memorial Hospital until complications from rheumatoid arthritis limited her activities. She had a beautiful voice and enjoyed singing in the East Flat Rock First Baptist and Hendersonville First Baptist Church choirs and for weddings. She was a member of Womens Missionary Union, The Patience Class and Live Embers of First Baptist Church, Hendersonville. Ruth was dearly loved by her friends and family.

Survivors include: daughters, Terry Enslen and her husband Sanford of Flat Rock, Janis Cohoon and her husband William C. Bud of Raleigh, Elizabeth&bsp; Dee Dee Gould and her husband John B. Chip of Hendersonville, Martha Jeffords and her husband Steve of Fairview;&bsp; a son, William E. Bill Sinclair II and his wife Barbara of Hendersonville;

Lovingly called Neena, she leaves grandchildren, Jennifer Wozniak and her husband John&bsp; of Atlanta, Will Sinclair and his wife Sabrina of Charlotte, Anna Stark and her husband Matthew of Raleigh, Mark Gould of Hendersonville, Andrew Jeffords of Fairview, and a great-grandchild, William Ethan Sinclair of Charlotte; a brother, Stanley Hudson and his wife Jan of Hendersonville, a sister, Barbara Johnson of Fort Smith, Arkansas, and loving in-laws, nieces and nephews.

The family extends their sincere gratitude to Pine Park Retirement Center and to Life Care of Hendersonville for the tender care they provided during her declining health.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 12, 2010 at Hendersonville First Baptist Church, with Rev. Wally Shamburger officiating.&bsp; Interment will follow at Oakdale Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

Memorials may be made to The Building Fund of First Baptist Church, 312 Fifth Avenue West, Hendersonville, N.C. 28739.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements. An online register book is available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.